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Sunday, October 23, 2011

One of the downsides to living in a smaller town is that we only have one big chain craft store - and it's not JoAnns. *sigh*

Well, I've been trying to work on this diaper bag for someone and I was stuck in limbo. My local craft chain was totally out of the magnetic closure.. for.a.very.long.time!!! So long, that it made me wonder if there is someone in my town that operates a purse/bag making sweatshop.

So I had to pay double the price from somewhere else - but I had to get this bag done.

I finished it during the FNSI. And the person that ordered it - sent me an email asking for another one for someone else. So I need to make another one this week.

Not the best interior picture - but look at those little bunnies! So sweet. It's a personalized Diaper Bag.

After I finished with that - I wanted to start a project with my new "Circa 1934" fabric from Moda. It involves hexigons. I've never worked with hexi's before but they didn't scare me. I was up for the challenge.

AARRRGGGHHHH!!! Cutting these little hexi's about put me in the nut house! And look...

....I didn't get very far. And I don't even want to tell you how long those few took me to cut. I don't have a ruler type hexi template.. or an Accu Quilt thingy.. so I eventually had to walk away and made myself some hot cider.

I could have kept cutting - BUT I was worried that if I don't have them cut right - it will make sewing them even more frustrating. Any quilter knows that accuracy is the key to a nice finished product. Right?

Before I had an GO! machine, I just cut squares big enough to cover the size of hexagon I was using with at least a 1/4 " fold over allowance. You can trim the extra fabric or not, it will be on the back where no one will see it. Saves time. Still use this method if I am using an odd size of hexi. Hope this helps.

Fab job on the bag, love those colours. Alas, my gran unexpectedly got taken into hospital on Friday evening, so my FNSI went out the window - thankfully she's fine, although annoyed that because she went in effectively at the weekend she's had to wait til tomorrow to get all her tests done!

I have a hexie plastic template, which I'm going to use for the first time tonight. I'll be interested to see how it'll go... Failing anything else though, you can print out some computerised hexies on paper and cut round them - I've done it in Visio, but I'm sure drawing in Word would work just as well, or a quick hunt online to see where someone else has done them (sorry, mine are at work or I'd send them)

Maybe you could make your own template from plastic lids like from butter tubs. Glue a stack of three or four so it is tall enough to rotary cut around. I did this once myself. Just be careful when cutting the shapes so you don't shave the plastic. Some glass shops will cut shapes from plexi glass. Make sure they have a laser cutter for accuracy. Once you are feeling secure, stack four or five fabric squares to cut at once.Love that diaper bag!

Gorgeous bag Heidi. That fabric is so sweet. I love hexies and my tip is cut your fabric hexie template and your papers hexie template from strong plastic and then just cut out your shapes using your template, don't trace them onto the fabric or papers. Every time you trace you change the size and we know where that leads!! It seems tedious but is a great diversion for travelling and while the football is on tv!! Happy stitching.

Your diaper bag is adorable, but I feel your pain about not having a quilt shop handy. If I ever move, I'll be sure to remember that!

I don't have an Accuquilt, but you really don't need one. Are you planning to English Paper Piece your hexagons? If so, you don't need to be so accurate with your fabric cutting. Only the papers need to be accurate. You can buy them already cut, and then be assured that everything will go together well. Or, there's a free graph paper program available so you can print your own hexie shapes on card stock. That's my favorite way to put together challenging pieces.

Lovely diaper bag, really like the colors. The hexies - well, I was taught to cut squares and sew them around a plastic or cardboard template. Sure cut down on the cutting time, but then hand-sewing....not my forte. I feel for you!

The diaper bag is for my babysitter's newest addition. It looks fantastic! Thank you for all the time you've put into this. Can't wait to see it up close. You made the diaper bag for my baby, who's now almost 3. I've received more complements on that bag. If you have any cards, whenever someone pays me a complement I'd be happy to pass on contact information. Thanks again!

Hi!I just cut 2.5 inch squares (for a 1 inch per side hexagon). I find it is much easier for sewing and to sew the hexies together!If you go to the Inchy Hexagon blog, Joanne has paper or card stock you can buy. She will also custom cut as many, what ever size, what ever fabric you would like.If you send me an email, I'll email you back her website.Take care, Leslie

I have a large hexagon quilt that I will machine sew. The hexagons are made by lady hexagonia's template, trace by pencil and cut by scissors. you can see my tut for sewing by machine. They are still sitting in a pile in the sewing room since I am sore that they took freaking forever to cut.:)